Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan on Wednesday launched a forum that was floated by former members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] at Thuravoor, near Cherthala. The presence of the veteran leader at the function is being widely regarded as part of his ongoing tussle with the State leadership of the party.
The forum, Social Justice, Palliative Care, and Anti-Corruption Movement (SPAM), has been formed by some of his supporters in the region, many of who had recently parted ways with the party following differences.
Former CPI(M) Chandiroor local secretary C. Rajappan and former Aroor area committee member L. Ouseph are the president and secretary of the forum respectively.
While the function was viewed with suspicion by the district leadership of the CPI(M), party workers were not barred from participating in the function. According to sources, the stance was borne out of the fear of a possible setback the party could suffer by opposing an endeavour that proclaimed to fight corruption and strive for social justice.
However, functionaries of the party were conspicuous by their absence at the function that was held on Wednesday. CPI(M) leaders, including Aroor MLA A.M. Ariff, who were invited to the function, failed to turn up. At the same time, K.C. Venugopal, MP, and CPI district secretary and Cherthala MLA, P. Thilothaman, were present. The CPI(M) district leadership claimed that none of the party’s workers were directed to boycott the function.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Achuthanandan desisted from touching upon issues concerning the CPI(M). He focussed on how corruption had affected various avenues and commended the organisers for launching the initiative.
